Meter control apparatus



March 22, L, BROWNELL METER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16. 1930 A TTORNE VS Patented Mar. 22, 1932 vireo STATES FATNT GFFEQE JAMES L. BROWNELL, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CHECKER CAB MANU- FACTURING CORPORATION, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN METER CONTROL APPARATUS Application filed August 16, 1930. Serial No. 475,748.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a control apparatus for the meters of taXicabs by which the meter is automatically made operative upon the starting of the vehicle with the passenger in the event the driver neglects to properly manipulate the control element.

Second, to provide an apparatus of this character which may be readily embodied in meters of the type now in use.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of an apparatus embodying the features of my invention, various parts being shown conventionally and without regard to proportions. The parts are shown with the control element in vacant or neutral position and the control parts are shown in the position resulting from occupance of the vehicle but prior to starting the vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view with the control parts in initial position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a fragment of the frame of a motor vehicle and 2 a passenger seat. 3 represents the meter and 4 the signal control element thereof. The details of the meter mechanism are not illustrated other than the control element, with which my improvements are directly associated.

5 represents the driving shaft of the meter. Parallel with this driving shaft I mount a I. driven shaft 6 having aworm 7 slidably mounted thereon. This worm, however, is connected to rotate with the driven shaft 7 and the shaft has a pin 8 engaging the slot 9 This rod 15 is connected by the spring 16 and link 17 to one end of the lever 18 pivoted at 19 and provided with a projection 20 engaging the cam-like projection 21 on the shaft of the control member 4 so that, when the lever 20 is pulled downwardly against the tension of the spring 23 connected to its opposite end, the control member is automatically thrown to operative position.

The pawl 10 is actuated to worm engaging position by means of the electromagnet 24, the armature 25 of which has a return spring 26. The pawl is held in its engaging position by means of a detent 27 which is urged to pawl engaging position by the spring 28. This spring, however, is of less tension than the spring 26. The detent is held in engaged position by the dog 29 which is pivoted thereto to engage the keeper 30.

This dog is controlled by means of the electromagnet 31, the armature 32 of which is provided with a return spring 33. The electromagnets 24 and 31 are provided with circuits 34 and 35, respectively, which are controlled by a common switch 36 mounted on the rod 15. The switch 36 is adapted to coact alternately with the pairs of contacts 37 and 38 in the circuits 34 and 35, respectively. The switch is shown in position to close the circuit 34 in the drawings.

I provide a plurality of switches 39 which are arranged within the seat to be actuated by the occupant of the seat. These switches have return springs 40 so that they are normally held in coacting relation to the contacts 41 in the circuit 35. l/Vhen actuated as indicated by the left-hand switch of Fig. 1 the switch coacts with the contacts 42 in the circuit 34 and, in the event the switch 36 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the electromagnet 24 is actuated to shift the pawl into worm engaging position.

As soon as the vehicle is started the worm is moved axially, thereby actuating the lever 13 and, through the connections described, the control member 4 of the meter. This same actuation moves the switch 36 into position to coact with the contacts 38, bringing the switch into position to close the circuit 35.

The rotation and upward movement of the p worm 7 is'terminated by the disengagement of slot 9 from stud 8.

The switches 39 are connected in parallel so that the actuation of any one of them will operate the mechanism. As soon as the actuated switch is released it is returned to initial position and the detent circuit is closed.

My improvements insure that the meter is put into operation as soon as the vehicle is Patent is i 1. The combination in a motor vehicle provided with a seat, of a meter provided with a movable control element adapted for manual manipulation, a worm mounted for axial movement and having driving connection with, the meter drivingmeans', a pawl coacting with said worm, a detent for said pawl, a

' pawl actuating electromagnet provided with a spring returned armature, a detent releasing electromagnet provlded w1th a spring returned armature, circuits for said electromagnets, a control switch common to both of said circuits and adapted to alternately open and close the'same, an actuating lever for said control switch, a tappet on said wormcoacting with said lever, operatingconnections for said control switch to said meter control element whereby the control switch is moved to position to close the pawl actuating electromagnet circuit when the meter control element is ininoperative position, said switch being moved to' position to close the detent electromagnet circuit upon the actuation of said worm, and a spring returned switch operatively associated with said seat and adapted when in initial position to close said detent circuit and when in actuated position to close saidpawl circuit. a

2. The combination in a motor vehicle provided with a seat, of avmeter provided with a movable controlelement adapted for manual manipulation, a worm mounted for axial movement and having driving connection with the meter driving means, a pawl coacting with said worm, a detent for said pawl, a pawl actuating electromagnet, a detent releasing electromagnet, circuits for said electromagnets, a control switch com mon toboth of said circuits and adapted to V alternately open-and close the same, an actuating lever for said control switch, a tappet 1 on said worm coacting with said lever, operating connections for said control switch to said meter control element wher'ebythe con-' trol switch is moved to position to close the pawl actuating electromagnet circuit when the meter control element is in inoperative position, said switch being moved to position to close the detent electromagnet circuit,

upon the actuation of said'worm, and a switch operatively associated with said seat and adapted when in initial position to close said detent circuit and when in actuated position to close said pawl circuit.

3. The combination in a motor vehicle provided with a meter having a control element, a worm mounted for axial movement and having driving connection with the 'meter driving means, a pawl coacting with said worm, a detent for said pawl, a pawl actuating electromagnet provided 'with a spring returned armature, a 'detent releasing e'lectromagnet provided with a spring returned armature, circuits for said electromagnets, a control switch common to both of said circuits and adapted to alternately open and close the same operatively connected 'to said worm, operating connections for said control switch to said meter control element whereby tne control switch is moved to positionto close the pawl actuating electromagnetcircuit when the meter control element is in'inoperative position, said switch being moved to position to close the detent electromagnet circuit upon the actuation of said worm, and a spring returned switch operatively associated with a part of the vehicle for automatic operation and adapted when in initial position to close said detent circuit "and when in actuated position to close said pawl circuit. 7 v

l. The combination in a motor vehicle provided with a meter having a'co'ntrol element, a worm mounted for axial movement and having driving connection with the meter driving means,a pawl coacting'with said worm, a detent for said pawl, a pawl actuating electromagnet, a detent releasing electromagnet, circuits for said electromagnets, a control switch common to both of said circuits and adapted to alternately open and close the same operatively connected to said worm, operating connections 'for said control switch to said meter control element whereby the control switch is moved to position to close the pawl actuating electromagnet circuit when the meter control'element is in inoperative position, said switch being moved to position to close the detent electromagnet circuit uponthe actuation of said worm, and a switch operativelyassociated with apart. of the vehicle for automatic operation and adapted when in initialposie tion to close said detcnt circuit and when in actuated positionto close said pawl circuit.

5. The combination in a motor vehicle, of

a meter provided with a control element, a

worm mounted for axial movement and having' driving connections with said meter, op-

erating connections for said worm*to said control element, a pawl coacting with said worm, an electromagnet for actuating said pawl, a detent for holding said pawl in engagement with said worm, a detent releasing electromagnet, circuits for said electromagnets, a control switch common to both circuits and adapted to alternately open and close the same operatively connected to said worm, and an occupant operated switch common to both or" said circuits and normally in detent circuit closing position and acting to alternately open and close them.

6. The combination in a motor vehicle, of a meter provided with a control element, a worm mounted for axial movement and having driving connections with said meter, operating connections for said worm to said control element, a pawl coacting with said worm, an electromagnet for actuating said pawl, a detent for holding said pawl in engagement with said worm, a detent releasing electromagnet, circuits for said electromagnets, a control switch common to both circuits and adapted to alternately open and close the same operatively connected to said worm, and an occupant operated switch common to both of said circuits.

7. The combination in a motor vehicle provided with a meter having a control element, of a driven actuating member, operating connections for said actuating member to said control element, a control means for said actuating member including an actuating electromagnet and a detent electromagnet, circuits for said electromagnets, a control switch common to both circuits adapted to alternately open and close them and operatively connected to said actuating member, and an occupant actuated switch common to both circuits and adapted to close the detent circuit when in normal position.

8. The combination in a motor vehicle provided with a meter having a control element, or" an actuating means for said control element, a control means for said actuating means including an actuating electromagnet and a. detent electromagnet, a control switch common to both said electromagnets to alternately open and close their circuits, means for operating said control switch by said actuating means when said actuating electromagnet circuit is closed, whereby to open said circuit, and an occupant-actuated switch electrically associated with said control switch and adapted to close the detent circuit switch when in normal position.

9. The combination in a motor vehicle provided with a meter having a control element, of an actuating means therefor, a control means for said actuating means including an actuating electromagnet and a detent electromagnet, a control switch common to both electromagnets adapted to alternately open and close their circuits, means for operating said control switch by said actuating means when 0 In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 7 hand. JAMES L. BROWNELL. 

